Leica R10 is coming in January 2010
Leica R9 is now being shut down as well as the manufacture of manually focused lenses. This happens awaiting the digital R10 which will get autofocus.
For some years there was a digital back for Leica R8 and R9 called Digital Modul-R. Leica regards that upgrading the (DMR) while waiting for the fully digital camera is not profitable.
The production stop of the Leica R series was at first intended to be a temporary measure, but Leica has now decided to permanently ”trash” the existing R series, according to David Bell who is head of Leica in Great Britain.
The production resources are needed to produce the new medium format system S which is anticipated to become larger than the new R system.
The S system, fronted by the S2 camera body – is intended to be more like modern ”small frame” (digital) cameras than medium format cameras, both in terms of shape and speed. Some of the technical features – such as the autofocus – will be inherited by the new R system.
The intended customers of the S system are commercial photographers who need speed, ie within fashion, advertising and portraiture. The R system is oriented more towards well-off photo enthusiasts with a love for the brand.
I am not sure how Kamera & Bild came to this date – the google translation is horrible. Can anyone give us a better translation please?